Abstract: A drive assembly is provided and includes a rotatable housing, a motor disposed within and to rotate with the housing, the motor including a drive element and first and second drive shafts, which are independently rotatably drivable by the drive element, a first drivable element coupled to the first drive shaft such that rotation thereof is transmitted to the first drivable element and configured to propel the housing in a first direction during first drive shaft rotation and a second drivable element coupled to the second drive shaft such that rotation thereof is transmitted to the second drivable element and configured to propel the motor in a second direction, which is transversely oriented relative to the first direction, relative to the housing during second drive shaft rotation.

Abstract: A drive assembly is provided and includes a rotatable housing, a motor disposed within and to rotate with the housing, the motor including a drive element and first and second drive shafts, which are independently rotatably drivable by the drive element, a first drivable element coupled to the first drive shaft such that rotation thereof is transmitted to the first drivable element and configured to propel the housing in a first direction during first drive shaft rotation and a second drivable element coupled to the second drive shaft such that rotation thereof is transmitted to the second drivable element and configured to propel the motor in a second direction, which is transversely oriented relative to the first direction, relative to the housing during second drive shaft rotation.

Abstract: A drive assembly is provided and includes a rotatable housing, a motor disposed within and to rotate with the housing, the motor including a drive element and first and second drive shafts, which are independently rotatably drivable by the drive element, a first drivable element coupled to the first drive shaft such that rotation thereof is transmitted to the first drivable element and configured to propel the housing in a first direction during first drive shaft rotation and a second drivable element coupled to the second drive shaft such that rotation thereof is transmitted to the second drivable element and configured to propel the motor in a second direction, which is transversely oriented relative to the first direction, relative to the housing during second drive shaft rotation.

Abstract: A stackable vehicle is provided and includes a deck, pairs of controllable support elements at each of a first pair of opposed minor surfaces of the deck and comprising a first leg affixed to the deck and transversely telescopic relative to a corresponding minor surface plane, a second leg coupled to a distal end of the first leg and telescopic in parallel with the corresponding minor surface plane and a pivotable and rotatable wheel disposed at a distal end of the second leg and pairs of controllable support elements at each of a second pair of opposed minor surfaces of the deck and comprising a first leg affixed to the deck, a second leg coupled to a distal end of the first leg and telescopic in parallel with a corresponding minor surface plane and a pivotable and rotatable wheel disposed at a distal end of the second leg.

Abstract: A drive assembly is provided and includes a rotatable housing, a motor disposed within and to rotate with the housing, the motor including a drive element and first and second drive shafts, which are independently rotatably drivable by the drive element, a first drivable element coupled to the first drive shaft such that rotation thereof is transmitted to the first drivable element and configured to propel the housing in a first direction during first drive shaft rotation and a second drivable element coupled to the second drive shaft such that rotation thereof is transmitted to the second drivable element and configured to propel the motor in a second direction, which is transversely oriented relative to the first direction, relative to the housing during second drive shaft rotation.

Abstract: A stackable vehicle is provided and includes a deck, pairs of controllable support elements at each of a first pair of opposed minor surfaces of the deck and comprising a first leg affixed to the deck and transversely telescopic relative to a corresponding minor surface plane, a second leg coupled to a distal end of the first leg and telescopic in parallel with the corresponding minor surface plane and a pivotable and rotatable wheel disposed at a distal end of the second leg and pairs of controllable support elements at each of a second pair of opposed minor surfaces of the deck and comprising a first leg affixed to the deck, a second leg coupled to a distal end of the first leg and telescopic in parallel with a corresponding minor surface plane and a pivotable and rotatable wheel disposed at a distal end of the second leg.

Abstract: A transportation vehicle and methods for transporting persons, robots or cargo, and more particularly motorized vehicles, and methods for transporting over surfaces, including surfaces such as floors, roads, paths and sidewalks, and surfaces having obstacles or inclined surfaces and for enabling the ascending or descending of stairs without tilting while supporting a user or a load on a frame. The vehicle uses horizontal extending and retracting rods and vertical extending and retracting rods to pass over an obstacle or ascend or descend stairs. The horizontal extending and retracting rods are used as mechanisms to move the first set of ground contacting modules located to the fore of the vehicle or the last set of ground contacting modules located to the aft of the vehicle in a fore-aft plane to pass over an obstacle or to position the first set or last set of ground contacting modules upon a stair to be used for ascending and descending stairs.